Catharanthus Plant Named &#39;Suncatha 2316&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Catharanthus  plant named ‘Suncatha 2316’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; double-type flowers that are pale pink in color; and good garden performance.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Catharanthus roseus

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘SUNCATHA 2316’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Catharanthus plant,botanically known as Catharanthus roseus and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Suncatha 2316’.

The new Catharanthus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new freely branching and vigorousCatharanthus plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Catharanthus plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan in August, 2011 of a proprietaryselection of Catharanthus roseus identified as code designationS22-P-27, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Catharanthus roseus identified as codedesignation SIR22-16, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Catharanthus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yame,Fukuoka, Japan in February, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Catharanthus plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yame, Fukuoka, Japansince February, 2012, has shown that the unique features of this newCatharanthus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Catharanthus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Suncatha 2316’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Suncatha 2316’ as a new and distinctCatharanthus plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Double-type flowers that are pale pink in color.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in flower petal color as plants ofthe female parent selection have darker pink-colored flower petals.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus have double-type flowers        whereas plants of the male parent selection have single-type        flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of theCatharanthus roseus ‘Sunnichi Tahome’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.25,112. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Catharanthusdiffered from plants of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus were larger than plants of        ‘Sunnichi Tahome’.    -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’.    -   3. Plants of the new Catharanthus had smaller flowers than        plants of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’.    -   4. Plants of the new Catharanthus had double-type flowers        whereas plants of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’ had single-type flowers.    -   5. Plants of the new Catharanthus and ‘Sunnichi Tahome’ differed        in flower color as plants of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’ had white-colored        flowers with red purple-colored centers.    -   6. Plants of the new Catharanthus had shorter peduncles than        plants of ‘Sunnichi Tahome’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Catharanthus plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Catharanthus plant. The photograph at the top ofthe sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Suncatha 2316’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom ofthe sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of‘Suncatha 2316’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in 15-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and undercultural practices typical of commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were four months old when thedescription and photographs were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Catharanthus roseus ‘Suncatha 2316’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Catharanthus roseus identified as code designation S22-P-27,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Catharanthus roseus identified as code designation SIR22-16,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            weeks at temperatures about 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit, about four            basal branches each with about eight secondary branches            developing per plant; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 39.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 58.6 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 37 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.9 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 145A, slightly tinged with close to 70C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137D; venation, close to 144D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 8.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double-type salverform flowers            arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly            upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering habit.—Plants begin flowering about two to three            weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden,            plants flower continuously from the early summer to late            autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 7.2 mm.            Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Close to 158A and N155C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 4.7 cm.        -   Eye diameter.—About 4.1 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Tube diameter, at the base.—About 1.7 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl fused at            the base into a tube; five imbricate petaloids fused at the            base. Petal length (from throat): About 2 cm. Petal width:            About 1.15 mm. Petaloid length: About 2.4 cm. Petaloid            width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape: Broadly obovate. Petaloid            shape: Oblanceolate. Petal apex: Broadly acute. Petaloid            apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petaloid margin: Entire;            weakly undulate. Petal and petaloid texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petals and            petaloids, when opening, upper surface: Close to 56B. Petals            and petaloids, when opening, lower surface: Close to 56D.            Petals and petaloids, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            69C; eye zone, close to 59B; color does not fade with            development. Petals and petaloids, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to N155B; color does not change with            development. Throat: Close to 145B. Tube: Close to 144B            tinged with close to 182C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped tubular calyx with five            sepals fused towards the base. Sepal length: About 2.6 mm.            Sepal width: About 0.9 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to            narrowly deltoid. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Color, immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.            Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Stamen length: About 2.1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly            elliptic. Anther size: About 1.7 mm by 0.9 mm. Anther color:            Close to 145D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            NN155D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:            About 2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape:            Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary            color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Catharanthus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Catharanthus plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha2316’ as illustrated and described.